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Frag Rocks v3D Printed (1 Viewer)

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Tenny

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Not trying to steal the thread that @ITreefer posted about the ceramic ones so I figured I'd start my own. I'd def prefer the ceramic ones over a 3D printed ones, but the price on these is right (nearly free for me).

I was recently searching for 3D Printed Frag rocks, and generally the ones I found were "uninspiring". They were typically just half circles with no cool design at all. So I decided to make my own and this is what I ended up with. I have two different sized ones, that use different sized frag plugs even. One of them holds four regular frag plugs, while the other holds three miniature ones (found the miniature frag plug size one some website selling ceramic ones but I don't recall where).

The frag rocks are hollow underneath, so they don't displace too much water volume. You can also "glue" them to a rock if you want, but my plan was to put them in the sand. With the frag plugs in them, they don't sit flat (as my purpose was to put them on the sand). They do not float, but the 3D printed frag plugs need to be about 75% solid for them to sink (with nothing else on them)... I will probably stick to the ceramic plugs as they are cheap enough. I also plan on doing more designs / sizes but just finding time is the issue.

I am going to put this on Thingiverse so anyone with a 3D printer can go out and print it also. Just need to get around to that...
 

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ITreefer

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very nice Tenny!
I wouldn't have minded at all if you posted in my thread. This does deserve its own thread though
 
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Tenny

Tenny

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Heck yea! what are they going to be called on Thingverse
Done: Frag Rocks by drewprice
How big are they? Can you make bigger ones with more spots for plugs?
They are both about 120mm long. The bigger one is 85mm wide and 30mm tall, while the smaller one is 50mm wide, and 20mm tall. Certainly can make bigger ones. Although my 3D printer's capability is only 200x200x180mm... but really the effective build area is a tad smaller than that. How big are you looking?

very nice Tenny!
I wouldn't have minded at all if you posted in my thread. This does deserve its own thread though

Haha thanks, I just found it funny I've been working on these for the past few days and then you posted that!
 

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About to set up a new tank & ant to start a zoa garden. Once I get it set up and see how much space I have, I'll reach back out. 200mm is almost 8", so pushing it to the edge of your printer would probably work, if that is possible.
 
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Tenny

Tenny

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About to set up a new tank & ant to start a zoa garden. Once I get it set up and see how much space I have, I'll reach back out. 200mm is almost 8", so pushing it to the edge of your printer would probably work, if that is possible.
If you really want something bigger I have a friend with a print area of 720x350mm area and I imagine he'd be willing to print something.
 
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Tenny

Tenny

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So I finally got to actually using this only to realize the plugs didn't fit. There is such a variance of plug sizes out there it seems. I'd have to either make it specifically for the plugs I want to use, or just go to the larger sizes and the smaller ones will be a bit loose. I think the second option is better so I updated the standard file on thingiverse with the capability of using the largest frag plug sizes I can find.
 
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Tenny

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Not all of mine are on frag plugs right now but I'll measure the ones that are & get back with you
The fatest "stem" i've found to be about 12mm, but the disk on those is small.. so like 20. So I modified the design so that it'll fit the 12mm base, but also the 25mm disc on the largest ones. That way generally all will fit... but the ones with the 12mm stem will have a gap at the top, but the zoa's will fill that in I figure.
 
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Tenny

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Finally put it in the tank, with a few Zoa's that I got from eraser2001.

MVIMG_20190309_214909.jpg
(Has Oompa Loompa's on the bottom left, RR Pink Diamond on the right and JF Rainbow Incinerator on the top center. Still need to add another zoa to the top right.
 

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Looks good. Will be fun to see how they grow in over time.
I need to pick up a few more zoa frags then i'll doing the same with my ceramic one.
 
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